Signature-detecting device



June 11, 1929. F. J. GREENE ET AL SIGNATURE DETECTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 22, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet S @M -Frsadmckifimna -Elmr \MBaHUchL War/M Wag June 11, 1929. F. J. GREENE ET Al SIGNATURE DETECTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 22, 1927 s Shets-Sheet a k i June 1929- F. J GREENE ET AL 1.716.773

S IGNATURE DETECTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 22, 1927 s sheets-sheet a Patented June 11, 1929.

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STATES FREDERICK T. GREENE AND ELMER W. BELLUCHE, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGN- ORS TC THE CHRISTENSEN MACHINE COMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A COB- PORATION OF WISCONSIN.

SIGNATURE-DETECTING DEVICE.

Application filed October 22, 1927. Serial No. 228,091.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in signature stitching machines and has as an object the provision of improved detecting means whereby the stitching mechanism is rendered inoperative when incomplete groupsof signatures are pre* sented thereto.

I-leretofore, incomplete groups of signatures have been detected by a calipcring device and this method has been discarded due to the fact that the thickness of the signatures in a single run of paper varies so as to render the operation of the calipering device unreliable. 7

- Having in mind the objections inherent in detecting devices operated by 'calipering the thickness of the completed groups of signatures, this invention has as another object the provision of improved detecting means operated from the respective stations along the collecting and conveying device by the failure to deposit a signature at each station in time to be gathered onto the conveyer to render the stitching mechanism inoperable when the incomplete group is presented thereto.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved pusher member for stitching machines having means incorporated therein for rendering the stitching mechanism inoperable when an incomplete group of signatures collected by the pusher member is presented thereto.

A still further objectof this invention resides in the provision of an improved detecting mechanism of the character described which consists of a trip setting device mounted at each signature station along a signature collecting and conveying chain which remains in its inoperative position when a signature placed on the station and which sets a trip carried by pusher member, passing the station when a signature has not been deposited thereon, the pusher member trip, when set, operating a stitcher stop mechanism as it leaves the discharge end of the conveyor and being reset to its inoperative position prior to reaching the upper stretch of the conveyor.

Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, our invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined'by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of our invention constructed according to the best mode we have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of the collector and conveyor of a signature stitching machine, the receiving end of the saddle and the stitching mechanism Figure 2 is an enlarged view, partly in transverse section and partly in elevation, taken through the receiving end of the stitcher control mechanism on the plane of the line 22 of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the stitch er trip mechanism about to be operated by a pusher member trip;

Figure a is an'enlarged fragmentary view, partly in transverse section and partly in elevation, taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 4 l and illustrating the means for setting a pusher member trip in the event a station fails to have a signature thereon as the pusher member passes thereby;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view, partly insection and partly in elevation, taken through Figure a on the plane of the line 5-5 and illustrating the signature operated means for rendering the pusher member trip setting means inoperative when a signature is in place to be collected by the pusher member;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the finger member for setting the pusher member trip when a signature is not on a station as the pusher member passes thereby; I

Figure 7 is a top plan view of a station and its pusher trip setting mechanism;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the outer end of the conveyor and collector and illustrating the means for resetting the pusher member trips; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged. view, partly in sec tion and partly in elevation, illustrating one of the signature pusher members detached from the conveyor or collector.

A signature stitching machine usually comprises a signature collecting and conveying mechanism for presenting collected groups of signatures to an invertedV-shaped table or saddle, means for advancing groups of collectcd signatures to a stitching mechanism, where the groups are stitched to form completed books, and means for conveying the completed books from the stitchers after the stitching operation, and delivering them from the machine. The present invention is directed particularly to the collecting and conveying mechanism and the stitching mechanism and more particularly means for detecting incomplete groups of signatures and preventing their being stitched.

The machine proper has a main frame 10 carrying an inverted V-shaped table or saddle 11 in which suitable clincher mechanisms, not shown, are mounted and over which one or more stitcher heads 12 are supported, the stitching mechanism and clinchers being operated from a shaft 13. The stitchers are driven from an eccentric, not shown, normally free on the shaft 13 and having a connect;- ing rod or pitman let connected therewith, the eccentric being drivingly connected with the shaft 13 by a pin clutch mechanism 15.

The pin clutch is spring urged toward its position connecting the eccentric, not shown, with the shaft 13 but is held inoperative by a slidably mounted block 16 normally urged to engagement with the pin to move the same to inoperative position by a contractile spring 17. A. pin 18 carried by the block is engage able with a lever 19 fixed to a shatt 20 which carries a lever 21 adapted to be actuated to rotate the shaft, by the end 22 of a bell crank lever 23 to retract the block against its spring and permit the connection of the eccentric. not shown, with the shaft- 13. The bell crank lever is pivotally mounted adjacent its apex, at 2st, and has its end connected with one end of a rod 26 connected, as at 27, with a lever 28 fixed to a shaft 29 longitudinally journaled in the saddle.

Rocker arms 30 are fixed to the ends of the shaft 29 (but one being shown) and have their outer free ends connected by a longitudinal rocker bar 31 movable within a channel 32 in one face of the saddle. The channel 32 is of a width greater than that of the bar 31 to provide a space sufficient to receive a dog 33 pivoted from tiie first stitcher head, as at 34, the dog. when in the channel between one edge of the bar and the adjacent side 01"? the slot, preventing movement of the bar 31. The arm 22 of the bell crank lever 23 carries a roller which is normally urged to engage and follow a cam 36 carried by shaft 13, by a contractile spring 37, so that when a group of collected signatures is presented to the stitcher by the feeding mechanism, not shown, dog 33 is moved out of the channel 32 by the group of signatures passing thereunder and the roller is free to liollow the depression 38 in the cam 36, being actuated by its spring 37.

The resulting movement rocks the shaft 20, being actuated by the engagement of end 22 of the bell crank with lever 21, to move lever 19 and rot act block 16, permitting the connection of the eccentric, not shown, with the shaft 13 to operate the stitcher head. In the event that no book of signatures is fed the stitcher head, dog 33 remains in the channel thus restraining the rocking movement of the bar 31, its rocker arms 30 and shaft 29 and preventing the end 22 of hell crank 23 from following the depression in the cam. Thus it will be seen that whenever the normal rocking of the shaft 29 is arrested, no driving connection is attectcd between the shaft 13 and the eccentric, not shown, and the stitcher remains inoperative.

The saddle or inverted 'V-shaped table 11 forms substantially a continuation of a signature collector or conveyor which consists of a continuous chain composed of a plurality of connected inverted V-shaped members 39 the upper-stretch of which travels along a support i0 mounted on legs i1 and the lower stretch of which passes through a box or trough 42, the conveyor passing over idle pulleys 43 at its outer and inner upper end and over a drive sprocket 4 1 at its inner lower end, sprocket l4: obtaining its drive through a suitable transmission, designated generally at 45, and operated from a driven shaft to extended along the front of the machine. The conveyer is prrwicled with spaced pusher members 17, to be later more fully described. which cooperate with stations 48 to collect and convey the signatures to the receiving end of the saddle 11 where they are engaged by reciprocating conveying means, not shown, and fed to the stitchers.

Each station 18 consists 01 an inverted V shaped member secured over the convcyer or collector but spaced therefrom by a suitable support 19, there oeing as many stations as there are signatures to the completed book. The innermost signature ot' a book to be stitched is placed on the station :t'arthcst from the saddle 11 where its rear edges are engaged byone of the pusher members which removes the signature from the station onto the conveyer and as it reaches the next station it removes the signature on that station depositing it on top of the signature from the preceding station and so on, so that when the pusher member reaches the innermost end of the conveyer it has collectedv and fed a complete group of signatures to the reciprocating feeding means not shown, which advances the group to the stitcher where the book is formed.

At times, through the carelessness of an operator or the failure of a machine, in case the signatures are deposited on the stations by mechanical devices, a signature will not be present at the station as the pusher member passes the same and as a result an incomplete group of signatures is presented to the stitching mechanism which, if stitched, passes through the machine incomplete and is not detected. Attempts have been made in the past to overcome this ditiiculty by providing a device for calipering each completed group of signatures so that when the thickness of a group is less than a predetermined amount, the stitching mechanism will be rendered inoperative, and the incomplete book detected. This method has not been accurate due to the variation in thickness of the paper and this invention contemplates the provision of a means which is positive in operation, upon the failure of the operator or machine to deposita signature on each station, to render the stitching mechanism inoperative When an incomplete group of signatures is presented thereto, and which in no way holds up or delays the action of the machine upon the succeeding group of signatures.

An inclined plate 59 is mounted at each station 48 upon standards 51 supported from a member 52 connecting the legs or supports 41 and the outer surface of the plate is substantially in the same plane with the outer adjacent surface of the station but with their adjacent marginal edges spaced to permit the movement of the pusher members 4t? therebetween to engage a signature placed on the station with one side resting on the plate. The stations 48 are each suitably supported from an arm 53 adjustable in the end 54 of an arm or standard 55 fixed to the outermost of the adjacent pair of standards 51 supporting the plate, the other standard 51 having an arm or support 56 extended upwardly therefrom to mount pusher member trip setting means, to be later described.

The inner end of plate 50 is slotted, as at 57, to receive the free out 58 of a signature engaging finger 59 fixed to a shaft (30 pivoted, as at 61, in the standard 56 and provided with a counter-balance 62. A rod or lever (53 fixed to the upper end of shaft (30 is engageable with a lateral arm (it extended from a' sleeve journaled on a stud shaft 65 earried by the outer end of the support 56 and having its axis arranged at right angles to the axis of the shaft- 60. The sleeve ($5 has a projection 66 formed thereon to which a flat spring member or shoe 67 is secured to normally lie in a plane to engage the adjacent ends of the pusher members as they move therepast when the end 58 of the finger 59 is engaged in the slot 57 of the plate 59.

Each pusher member is preferably of arcuate or semi-circular shape having a bore 68 extending therethrough. in which an a.rc--

uate trip member 69 of greater length than the pusher member is slidable so that one end of the trip member at all times projects beyond one end of the pusher member. Each pusher member has a reduced portion spaced from one end to form a shoulder 70 which abuts one side of the conveyer at the aperture 71 through which it is extended, there being a spring 72 on the pusher member which engages the conveyor member to secure the pusher member in position.

Mountedadjacent the discharge end of the conveyor and the receiving end of the saddle 11 is a bell crank lever 73 which is pivoted, as at 74, to a standard or arm 7 5 so that its end 76 is in the path of a trip 69 projecting beyond the adjacent end of its pusher member. The other end 77 of the bell crank lever is notched, as at 78, to receive the upper end of a lever 79 fixed to a shaft 80 which is rotatably mounted in the arm 7 5 and an arm 81, a contractile spring 82 connected with the bell crank lever and with a pin 82 carried by the standard normally urging the end 77 of the bell crank lever towards the lever 79. Also fixed to shaft is a lever 83 which is connected with one end of a bell crank lever 84; by a link 85, the bell crank lever 89% being pivoted adjacent its apex, as at 86, and having'one end or arm 87 pivotally connected with a rod 88 which is slidably mounted so that its end 89 may be projected into the path of a lever 90 fixed to the shaft 29 to prevent rocking of the shaft 29, and consequently, the operation of the stitcher mechanism. The other end 91 of hell crank lever mounts a roller 92 which is engageable by the hump 93 of a cam 94; on the shaft d6 to retract the end 89 of the rod 88 out of the path of the lever against a spring 95 having one end connected with a cross-bar 96 secured to the arm 81 and, from which the arm 7 5 is adjustably mounted, the other end of the spring 95 being connected with the link 85.

When a signature is placed on a station 48, it is engaged by the next pusher member a? and removed therefrom on to the conveyor or collecting chain, the signature, as it passes off of the station passing beneath the free end 58 of the linger 59 elevating the outer end of the lever 63 and raising the lateral arm 6-1 to move the trip setting member tinger or shoe 6'7 out of the path of the pusher member as it passes thereunder so that the end of the trip 69 at the rear portion of the machine will continue to project above the adjacent end of the pusher member, so that as the pusher member passes the end 76 of the bell crank lever 73 the lever will remain in the position illustrated in Figure 3.

However, assuming that no signature is present on the station 48 as the pusher member passes the same, the trip setting finger or shoe 67 remains in its lowermost position riding over the adjacent end of the push-er member as it passes thereunder, sliding the trip 69 therethrough so that its opposite end projects beyond the other end of the pusher member to be within the plane of the end 76 of the bell crank lever as the pusher member passes the same. As the pusher memher, which has had its trip set in operative position, passes the bell crank lever 73 it rotates the bell crank lever on its pivot against the spring 84: moving the notch 78 free of the lever 79 which swings toward the conveyor to rotate the shaft 80 in a clockwise direction with reference to Figure 3, under the force of the spring 95, elevating the outer end of the arm 87 of the bell crank lever 84 and positioning the end 89 of the rod 88 in the path of the lever 90 arresting the rocking movement of the shaft 29 so that as the incomplete group of signatures is pre sented to the stitching mechanism, the movement of the dog 83 free of the channel 32 thereby does not permit the actuation of the stitching mechanism, as will be readily apparent.

After the normal time required for the stitching operation has elapsed, the reciprocating feeding mechanism, not shown, advances the incomplete and unstitched group of signatures and presents a new group of signatures to the stitching mechanism, by which time the hump 93 of the cam 94: will have engaged the roller 92 of the bell crank lever 84: to move the bell crank lever against the spring 95 removing the end 89 of rod 88 out or the path of the lever 90 and reengaging the free end of the lever '79 in the notch 78 of the bell crank lever 73.

The trip of the pusher member which moved the bell crank lever 73 remains in its active position until it again reaches the upper stretch oft-he conveyor at which point it passes beneath a spring resetting finger 97 and is moved through the pusher member to its inactive position where it remains until it is set by a trip setting linger or shoe 67 as described.

hat we claim as our invention is:

1. In a signature stitching machine, the combination with a stitcher and means for conveying collected groups of signatures to the stitcher, of means carried by the convey ing means and operable to prevent the normal operation of. the stitcher whereby it remains inoperative upon the presentation to the stitcher ot' a group of signatures containing less than a predetermined number.

i In a signature stitching machine, the combination with a stitcher, its drive mechanism and means for conveying collected groups of signatures to the stitcher, said conveying means having a plurality of stations on which individual signatures are placed to be removed by said conveying means, of means carried by said conveying means and operable to render the stitcher drive mechanism inoperative upon failure to have a signature on a station, when the group missing said signature is p esented to the stitcher.

3. In a signature stitching machine including a stitcher, a stitcher drive mechanism, a conveying chain having spaced pusher members and stations disposed over the conveying chain and adapted to have individual signatures placed thereon which are removed therefrom by the pusher members and collected on the chain in groups, means carried by the conveying chain and operable when a signature is not on a station when a pusher member passes the same to interrupt the normal operation of the stitcher drive whereby the stitcher remains inoperative when the group of signatures colleeted by said pusher member and missing said signature is presented to the stitcher.

4:. In a signature stitching machine including a stitcher, its drive mechanism, a convoying chain having spaced pusher members and stations disposed over the conveying chain and adapted to have individual signatures placed thereon to be removed by the pusher members and collected on the chain in groups and presented to the stitcher to be stitched into complete books, trip means carried by each pusher member, means operable to render the stitcher drive mechanism inoperative and adapted to be operated by the pusher member trip means, said pusher member trip means being normally inoperative so that the means for rendering the stitcher drive mech anism inoperative is normally in a position not to interfere with the stitcher drive, and means operable upon a pusher member passing a station without a signature thereon to set said pusher member trip means in operative position whereby as said pusher member conveys a group of signatures, which is incomplete by reason of the absence of a signature from one station, the same retains the stitcher drive mechanism inoperative as the incomplete group of signatures is presented to the stitcher.

5. In a signature stitching machine including a stitcher, its drive mechanism, a conveying chain having spaced pusher members and stations disposed over the coin-'eying chain and adapted to have individual signatures placed thereon to be removed by the pusher members and collected on the chain in groups and presented to the stitcher to be stitched into complete books, trip means carried by each pusher member, means operable to render the stitchcr drive mechanism inoperative and adapted to be operated by the pusher member trip means said pusher member trip means being normally inoperative so that the means for rendering the stitcher drive mechanism inoperative is normally in a position not to interfere with the stitcher drive, means operable upon a pusher member passing a station without a signature thereon to set said pusher member trip means in operative position whereby as said pusher member conveys a group of gnatures, which is incomplete by reason of the absence of a signature from one station, the same retains the stitcher drive cchanism inoperative as the incomplete group of signatures is presented to the stitchcr, and means for resetting the pusher member trip means to inoperative position.

6. In a signature stitching machine including a conveying chain, a plurality of stations disposed over the chain and from which individual signatures are removed onto "the chain to form collected groups and means for stitching the collector groups of signatures to formcompleted books, trip means carried by the chain and means located at each station and operable in the event a signature is not thereon when a pusher member passes the same to set the trip means whereby the group of signatures thus rendered incomplete remains unstitched.

'Z. A pusher member for signature stitchin nachines, comprising a substantially arcuate shaped member having .a reduced portion terminating at a shoulder spaced from one end adapted to form a stop to limit the insertion oi the pusher member through a conveying chain section, and spring means adapted to engage behind the inner face of the conveyor chain section through which the pusher member is inserted to releasably secure the same in place.

8. A pusher member for a machine or" the character described, comprising an arcuate shaped member having a bore Xtending therethrough for its length, and a trip member of a length greater than the length of the pusher member and slidable within its bore whereby one end at all times projects beyond one end of the pusher member.

9. In a machine oi? the character described, having a conveyor, an arcuate shaped pusher member having a bore extending therethrough for its length, a member of a length greater than the length oi the pusher member and slidable within its bore whereby one end at all times projects beyond one end of the pusher member, stations disposed over the conveyor and adapted to have signatures deposited thereon to be removed onto the conveyer by the pusher member as it passes the same, and means operable, when the pusher member passes a station not having a signature thereon, to slide the second member through the pusher member.

10. In a machine of the character described having a conveyor, an arcuate shaped pusher member having a bore extending therethrough for its length, a member of a length greater than the length of the pusher member and slid able within its bore whereby one end at all times projects beyond one end of the pusher member, stations disposed over the conveyer and adapted to have signatures deposited thereon to be removed onto the conveyer by the pusher member as it passes the same, means operable, when the pusher member passes a station not having a signature thereon, to slide the second member through the pusher member, and means operable to slide the second member in a reverse direction.

11. In a signature stitching machine including a stitcher, conveying means and a station from which a signature is removed onto the conveying means, trip means adapted to be moveo to active position to render the stiteher inoperative, a member normally p0- sitioned to move the trip means to active position, and means actuated by the signature as it is removed from its station to move the member out of the path of the trip means whereby the trip means retains its inactive position.

12. In a signature stitching machine, the combination With a stitcher and its conveying means, a plate having a slot and upon which a signature is adapted to' be placed to be removed by the conveying means the signature passing over the slot as it is removed, trip means wnich, when moved to its active position, functions to render the stitcher inoperative, a member normally positioned to actuate the trip means to active position, and a part connected with said member and normally positioned in the plate slot whereby the signature moves the member out of the path of the trip means as it is removed by the conveying means.

13. In a signature stitching machine inclu ding a stitcher, a conveying means and stations disposed over the conveying means and adapted to have individual signatures placed thereon to be removed therefrom by the conveying means, trip means movable to active position to render the stitcher inoperative, meansnorimilly tending to move thet-rip means to active position, and means whereby the proper removal of a signature at each station moves said last-mentioned means out of the path of the trip means whereby the trip means maintains its inactive position.

In testimony whereof We hereunto aiiix our signatures.

FREDERICK J. GREENE. ELMER l/Y. BELLUCHE. 

